Focal Point

Hockey? Meh.

24 July 2010, 2.30pm, mock Leafs' dressing room trailer, CNE Grounds, Toronto

Once upon a time, Sandeep was a good Canadian girl who loved hockey, the Leafs and Sundin. Then she woke up one day and just didn't care about any of it. So, what's up with this picture? Nostalgia for what used to be, along with a healthy affirmation that she still no longer cares about hockey.

Sandeep does admit to feeling the peer pressure at times to watch the games and cheer for the teams, but she sticks by what she feels, or rather, no longer feels. More importantly, Sandeep knows that such disinterest in the national sport doesn't make her any less of a good Canadian girl. Amen to that sister!

GOOOOAALL!!!! [insert your cheers/curses here]

2 July 2010, 9:15pm, William Ashley China, Bloor Street West, Yorkville, Toronto

Who was playing? Doesn't matter. When was the game? Doesn't matter.
Who won? Ah, that always matters.

When the World Cup started, I didn't know who to cheer for. My friends and family, the South Asian ones at least, were all stubbornly rooting for England. Even if they couldn't have named the English players, it was England all the way, judging by the status updates on their Facebook pages. (Because one way or another, all desis have got ties to someone or something British and apparently that alone should be good enough for our collective loyalty.)

Me, I'm different, I need a reason to cheer. Blind faith in the Three Lions just wouldn't do it. (Turns out I saved myself the heartache.) My solution for finding the perfect team would have to come from following the FIFA.com updates on Twitter and watching all the matches - good, bad and mediocre - to find the team worthy of my loyalty, like a truly dedicated sports fan would do. 

Alas, I'm not a dedicated sports fan. Just an appreciative one. I actually shushed my mom during those tense moments of the Paraguay vs Spain match on Saturday when penalty kicks for both teams failed to break the solid 0-0 score. I felt bad for Paraguay when it was over, but had to cheer for Spain's victory. (It's so much easier when you have no real loyalty.)

Come Sunday afternoon, though, it'll be easier to decide just where my loyalty lies between the final two teams. I'm already leaning towards the Netherlands though if Spain wins against Germany, I might have to flip a coin. (Now there's a tried-and-true technique, eh?) Maybe I'll just follow my heart once the match starts. Either way, I'll be watching till the end, cheering or cursing along with the players when the commentators' voices ring out: GOOOOAALL!!!